Building sandcastles can get you fined in Spain and Italy

The Short Answer

TRUE! Various Spanish and Italian beach towns have banned or restricted sandcastle building, with fines ranging from €150 to €1,500.

The Full Story

Locations with bans:

Eraclea, Italy (near Venice) - €500 fine
Benidorm, Spain (Levante beach) - €150 fine
Galicia, Spain - up to €1,500 under Ley de Costas
Arona and Arica, Tenerife - permit required

Stated Reasons:

"Obstruct passage" on beach
Block views for other tourists
Interfere with rescue/medical teams
Environmental protection of dunes (Galicia)

Enforcement Reality: Varies widely. Professional sand sculptors soliciting money are more likely to be targeted than children building small castles.

Common Misconceptions

People often assume there is a single national law banning sandcastles, but these are municipal-level ordinances that vary by location and season. Small children building modest sand structures are rarely targeted; enforcement typically focuses on large or elaborate constructions that obstruct pathways or interfere with beach maintenance. Not all beaches in Spain or Italy have these restrictions.

Actual Legal Text

Multiple municipal ordinances across Spain and Italy prohibit or restrict sandcastle building on public beaches. In Spain, Benidorm banned sand structures on Levante beach following a 2016 Town Hall vote, with fines up to €150. In Galicia, Spain, fines can reach €1,500. In Italy, the town of Eraclea near Venice banned sandcastle building on its beaches, citing obstruction of passage and beach maintenance concerns.